IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 68th Edition: What’s Changing for 2027?

The 68th Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) comes into effect on 1 January 2027, bringing a number of important changes for organisations and individuals involved in the transport of dangerous goods by air.

The new edition incorporates amendments developed by the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel for the 2027–2028 ICAO Technical Instructions, together with changes adopted by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board. IATA has highlighted the main changes ahead of the new edition, although it is important to remember that its published summary is not an exhaustive list of every amendment.

From tighter rules surrounding power banks and lithium batteries to new UN numbers, changes to packing instructions and updated marking requirements, there is plenty for dangerous goods professionals to be aware of.

Here are some of the most significant changes coming in the IATA DGR 68th Edition.

Changes to How the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Are Used

IATA has updated its guidance on how to use the Dangerous Goods Regulations.

The revised guidance provides additional information on:

• applying Special Provisions to specific shipments;
• selecting the correct Packing Instructions;
• choosing appropriate packaging types; and
• applying the rules when several dangerous goods are combined within a single package under All Packed in One.

These changes should help users navigate some of the areas of the Regulations where several requirements need to be considered together.

Changes to Applicability and Operator Responsibilities

There are several amendments within Section 1 – Applicability.

Blood and Blood Components

The exception for dangerous goods carried on an aircraft has been expanded to include blood and blood components intended for transfusion.

The change primarily relates to equipment that may itself contain dangerous goods and is being used to maintain the viability of organs, blood or blood components during transport.

The existing exception relating to data loggers has also been expanded to cover certain sodium-ion batteries.

Information Provided to Employees

IATA has clarified that an operator’s Operations Manual, Dangerous Goods Manual or other applicable manual must be kept up to date.

Operators must also have procedures covering dangerous goods that passengers and crew may only carry with the approval of the operator.

Operator responsibilities have been expanded further, requiring operators to consider the potential for fire when approving certain dangerous goods and their ability to manage the situation until a safe landing can be made.

Important Changes for Dangerous Goods Carried by Passengers and Crew

Some of the most noticeable changes in the 68th Edition relate to passenger baggage, batteries and power banks.

What Does “Personal Use” Mean?

A new note has been added to Section 2.3 to provide additional clarification around what is considered “personal use” when passengers or crew carry dangerous goods.

There is also clearer wording around circumstances where operator approval is required.

Power Banks Over 100 Wh

One particularly important change is that power banks containing lithium-ion batteries exceeding 100 Wh are forbidden from being carried by passengers or crew.

Maximum of Two Power Banks

Section 2.3.5.8 has also been amended to make a clearer distinction between power banks and spare batteries.

Passengers and crew will be limited to:

• a maximum of two power banks; and
• normally no more than 18 spare batteries.

The previous allowance was 20 spare batteries.

Operators may permit more than 18 spare batteries where appropriate, but they cannot permit more than two power banks.

For airlines, ground handlers and organisations preparing passenger information, this is likely to be an important area to review ahead of 2027.

Lithium Battery Mobility Aids

The requirements for wheelchairs and mobility aids powered by lithium batteries have also been amended.

The new provisions take a more safety-focused approach to lithium-ion battery-powered mobility aids, including additional operator requirements where installed batteries exceed 300 Wh per device.

The requirements affecting spare lithium-ion batteries have also been revised.

IATA has additionally clarified that battery allowances for portable electronic devices apply on a per-device basis.

Passenger Dangerous Goods Tables Are Changing

The familiar Table 2.3.A is also being reorganised.

Rather than having all passenger and crew provisions contained within one table, the information is being divided into three:

Table 2.3.A – items requiring operator approval.

Table 2.3.B – items that do not require operator approval.

Table 2.3.C – items that are not permitted to be carried by passengers or crew.

IATA states that Table 2.3.C is expected to be transitional and is currently planned for removal in the 70th Edition of the DGR.

Excepted Quantities

There is a useful clarification within Section 2.6 – Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities.

The wording of 2.6.2.2 has been amended to make clear that the Excepted Quantity provisions apply to substances and not articles.

This is an important distinction when determining whether a dangerous goods shipment is eligible to use the Excepted Quantity provisions.

State and Operator Variations

State and Operator Variations continue to be an important part of preparing dangerous goods shipments for air transport.

Significant changes or notable new variations have been recorded for 17 States, including New Caledonia and Norfolk Island.

IATA is also continuing work to simplify Operator Variations.

Variations that merely repeat existing regulations without imposing a more restrictive requirement are being removed, while some company-specific requirements are being moved into operators’ own procedures and manuals.

During 2027, IATA also intends to engage with operators ahead of the 69th Edition regarding the removal of variations that do not meet the criteria in DGR 2.8.3.2.

Classification Changes

There are several changes within Section 3 – Classification.

These include amendments relating to:

• classification of explosive articles;
• subsidiary hazards for aerosols;
• additional prohibitions where aerosol contents meet certain other classification criteria;
• guidance on the classification of infectious substances; and
• classification of hybrid batteries containing both lithium-ion and sodium-ion cells.

The changes relating to infectious substances are particularly relevant when emerging health situations require rapid decisions about whether material should be classified as UN 3373 or as UN 2814/UN 2900.

New UN Numbers for 2027

The List of Dangerous Goods in Section 4.2 will contain several new entries.

These include:

• UN 3561 – Chlorophenols, corrosive, toxic, solid, n.o.s.
• UN 3562 – Chlorophenols, corrosive, solid, n.o.s.
• UN 3563 – Lithium metal batteries installed in cargo transport unit
• UN 3564 – Sodium ion batteries installed in cargo transport unit

An entry has also been created for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, directing users towards the appropriate Article entry and Special Provision A236.

New and Amended Special Provisions

A number of Special Provisions have been updated, particularly those associated with batteries.

Amendments include:

• A26 and A103 – expanded to include heating machines as well as refrigerating machines;
• A88 – revised to remove uncertainty surrounding low and annual production runs;
• A107, A185, A213, A225 and A228 – additional references to lithium and sodium batteries; and
• A214 – additional guidance explaining the classification differences between battery-powered vehicles and battery-powered equipment.

Several new Special Provisions have also been introduced.

A235 – Hybrid Batteries

A235 relates to the classification of hybrid batteries containing both sodium-ion and lithium cells or batteries.

A236 – MRI Machines

A236 has been introduced to facilitate the transport of modern Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines.

A239

A239 effectively replicates the previous Special Provision A801, which has consequently been removed.

A808

A808 is a new provision dealing with UN numbers and Proper Shipping Names that are being phased out.

Under the new approach, phased-out entries will remain within the Dangerous Goods List for two years and will be linked to Special Provision A808.

Changes to Packing Instructions

A substantial number of Packing Instructions have been amended for the 68th Edition.

These include:

PI 130, 200, 220, 222, 378, 459, 497, 570, 603, 650, 950, 951, 952, 955, 962, Y963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 972, 975 and 978.

Many of the changes relate to the continued introduction of sodium-ion battery requirements and revised wording surrounding prototype batteries.

There is also an important clarification for Section II packages prepared under PI 967, PI 970 and PI 978.

Where a package contains no more than four cells or two batteries, button cells installed in equipment do not count towards the four-cell/two-battery limit.

Battery Mark Changes

Another change that businesses should be aware of relates to the battery mark.

The previous version of the battery mark that included space for a telephone number has now been phased out.

However, IATA makes an important point: because the previous mark contains additional information, its presence should not by itself be the sole reason for rejecting a package.

Shippers are nevertheless encouraged to obtain and use the current version of the battery mark.

Organisations should therefore consider checking their existing stocks of labels and updating templates or automated labelling systems before the new edition takes effect.

Changes to Overpack Marking

The requirements surrounding overpack marking have also been clarified.

The regulations do not require every marking shown on the packages inside an overpack to be duplicated on the outside of the overpack.

IATA has clarified the relevant note and included an example to help users apply the requirement correctly.

There is also a new positioning requirement where a shipment requires both a battery mark and hazard labels other than the Class 9 battery label. In these circumstances, the battery mark must be placed on the same surface as the other hazard labels.

Documentation and Handling

There are smaller but still important changes within Sections 8 and 9.

In Section 8 – Documentation, Step 6 of the Second Sequence in 8.1.6.9.2 has been restructured and reworded to provide a more logical process.

In Section 9 – Handling, amendments have been made to requirements concerning the segregation of explosives according to compatibility groups.

What Should Dangerous Goods Professionals Do Before 2027?

Although 1 January 2027 may seem some way away, businesses involved in shipping, accepting or handling dangerous goods by air should start considering how these changes affect their operations.

Areas worth reviewing include:

• dangerous goods procedures and operational manuals;
• training materials and course content;
• passenger and crew information;
• lithium and sodium-ion battery procedures;
• power bank acceptance requirements;
• Packing Instructions used by the business;
• dangerous goods acceptance checklists;
• packaging and marking procedures;
• stocks of battery marks and labels;
• State and Operator Variations; and
• procedures relating to mobility aids and portable electronic devices.

It is particularly important not to rely solely on a summary of significant changes. IATA itself states that its list is intended to highlight the main amendments and is not exhaustive.

Anyone applying the regulations should therefore consult the complete 68th Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations when it becomes applicable.

Preparing for the IATA DGR 68th Edition

The 2027 changes demonstrate just how quickly the dangerous goods environment continues to develop.

Battery technology remains one of the most significant areas of change, with lithium batteries, sodium-ion batteries, hybrid batteries, power banks and battery-powered mobility aids all receiving additional attention in the new edition.

For dangerous goods professionals, staying up to date isn’t simply about knowing that a new edition has been published. Procedures, training, documentation and working practices need to reflect the regulations being applied.

If your organisation transports dangerous goods by air, now is a good time to begin reviewing how the IATA DGR 68th Edition could affect your shipments and your staff.

For dangerous goods training and support ahead of the 2027 regulatory changes, contact the Logicom Hub team.

Need Dangerous Goods Training?

Logicom Hub is a leading provider of Dangerous Goods Training Courses (HAZMAT), supporting businesses and individuals who handle, prepare and transport dangerous goods.

We provide interactive training designed to build confidence, improve knowledge and help organisations maintain compliance across different modes of transport.

Explore our Dangerous Goods Training Courses or contact our team to discuss the most appropriate training for your organisation.

📞 0330 912 5041
📧 [email protected]